Orlando Airport Leader In Cargo Lauded As The Center Of The Year

October 27, 1986|By Peter Adams of The Sentinel Staff

Orlando International Airport's reputation as the fastest growing airport in the state is not limited to increases in passenger traffic. Orlando's airport was recognized last week as a major cargo center by the Air Transport Association.

Overnight packages, mail, foreign goods and air-express delivery are the less visible segments of the air transport industry, but they were responsible for a payroll at the airport of $5.4 million in 1985, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

The Air Transport Association, a Washington-based aviation-industry lobbying group, named Orlando International as cargo airport of the year. Los Angeles International Airport received the same distinction for airports with more than 175,000 commercial cargo operations.

''Both airports were recognized for progress in satisfying cargo requirements of surrounding communities,'' said Paul J. Hyman, director of cargo services for the Air Transport Association. He said a new cargo- handling terminal and the free-trade zone were incentives for freight carriers to do business in Orlando.

Stephen J. Cooke, Orlando International's director of properties, said that, since 1984, the airport has converted an old terminal into an 86,000- square-foot warehouse for freight handling at a cost of $1.5 million. Tenants include Federal Express, Piedmont Aviation Inc. and the U.S. Postal Service.

A second building, built in 1985 on the Orlando Tradeport property, is home to several express-mail handlers, including Emery Air Freight, Air Express International and Airborne Freight.

''On the top of our list for the future is a USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture station here,'' Cooke said. He said a study commissioned by the aviation authority will show that 40 percent of the green plants now coming through the USDA station at Miami International Airport from Latin America are destined for the Orlando area's fern and nursery businesses.

Cooke said the aviation authority would use that study to persuade the USDA to open a station at Orlando.

Cargo tons moved through Orlando International during the past five years have increased from 18,616 tons in 1980 to 38,685 tons in 1985.

Cooke said the predominant cargo coming into Orlando's airport are small packages, spare parts for the electronics industry and mail.